Bedroom gig from Borderline: Fire

A band from Reading played a gig in their bedroom – and broadcasted it to the world.

Borderline: Fire are hoping their bedroom gig will provide a passport to a festival slot

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A band from Reading played a gig in their bedroom – and broadcasted it to the world.

Rock five-piece Borderline: Fire performed an unusual concert after getting through to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam heat, which is part of the energy drink’s national band competition.

The gig was streamed online on Monday with music fans logging in up and down the country.

“It’s quite bizarre”, says guitarist Joss Walker.

“The idea of playing a gig from a bedroom takes some getting used to but that doesn’t mean it’s any less of a show.”

Reading-based Borerline: Fire have been steadily building their fan base since they began gigging around the South East in 2010.

The band is made up of lead singer Jamie Boshier, 20, bass player Johnny Slevin, 20, lead guitarist Joss Walker, 18, synth and keys player James Marshall-Stack, 21, and drummer Chaz Mayhew, 21.

With backgrounds ranging from performing arts to other successful bands the guys have sharpened their sound in venues like Reading’s Facebar, Camden Barfly and the Newbury Corn Exchange.

And now they’ve moved back to the bedroom for the gig which could propel them to some of the biggest stages they have ever seen.

Drummer Chaz Mayhew added: “We’re lucky in that it’s actually a space we’re used to rehearsing in, which just means we have to step it up a notch or three.”

The gig took place after the band, who have supported Bloc Party, Hadouken and Missing Andy, beat off 700 other hopefuls.

Having got to this stage they are now in the running for a place on the competition’s festival tour – heading to Slam Dunk, Download, Sonisphere and Hevy.

“It’s hard to comprehend the opportunities that could arise from the Red Bull Bedroom Jam,” says Joss. “But I think it’s fair to say we’re all incredibly excited.”

The Red Bull bedroom jam aims to find some of the best emerging rock bands in the country and to put them on stage at some of the UK’s best festivals.

Borderline: Fire are hoping their fans will cast their vote and get them to the top.

Certainly the band have worked hard to get this far and they’re ready to go the distance.

“We’re all relieved that it’s starting to pay off,” says Joss.

Soundtracks

Reading band Union Starr release their superb album Falling Apart Together on Monday on their own Woodenhouse record label.

Earlier on in these pages I’d written about the band, and how this album has been lying gathering dust for about 10 years while they dealt with legal and friendship issues.

But luckily for us they have kissed and made up, and resurrected the album, which sounds remarkably fresh. Their single Photograph is released the same day, and they are playing a gig at the Rising Sun Arts Centre in Silver Street, Reading, on Friday, March 30, with grunge punk outfit Screama Ballerina.

Newbury’s Dry The River get my vote for Tweet of the Week: “Going to Woody Harrelson’s party in a minute to do an acoustic session. Weird and incredible times...”

Having wowed the famous showcase festival South By South West (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, where indeed they’ve been rubbing shoulders with the stars, they’re now touring the US to play more showcases.

Incredible times indeed!

Ascot venue Jagz is staging a music competition in April. Kicking off on Tuesday, April 10, the contest is open to all styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, folk, blues and acoustic.

Bands and solo artists can perform original material as well as covers.

Gig promoter Graham Steel said: “Due to the success of last year’s competition we have decided to do it again as it was so much fun!”

Prizes are currently being arranged and will include a headline spot at Jagz.

Rock quintet The After Affect were recent guests on my BBC Introducing Berkshire show and I’m happy to say they are holding a single launch on Friday. Taken Alive will be celebrated at Croft Hall in their home town of Hungerford from 7.30pm with Highly Personal, Justice For Dragons and A Tale of Two Cities In support.

A touch of luck will help bands get their sound across at an open sound session next week. Vocal Networking is back at South Street giving artists the chance to get their music heard around the UK.

The session invites singers and bands to go down to South Street on Saturday, March 31, and put their name in a hat with the opportunity to perform if they are pulled out.

All of the performances are videoed and then put on YouTube for people to vote for their favourite acts. MCs, DJs, producers and critics will be going along, giving emerging bands the chance to meet people who can help them progress. The winner will earn the title of Vocal Networking champion as well as getting online exposure for their sound.

Rappers Aukes and JBlackz have already teamed up with Vocal Network to get their video online but others will be following in their footsteps at the next open sound session.